Judge Blocks Trump's "Professional Degree" Loan Rule

A federal judge has partially blocked a Trump administration rule that would have restricted access to higher student loan limits for graduate students in nursing, physical therapy, public health, physician assistant programs, and other healthcare fields. At issue is the definition of "professional degree" under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which set new federal loan caps taking effect in July. Students in programs designated as "graduate" programs face a $100,000 loan cap, while those in "professional degree" programs face a higher cap of $200,000. The Education Department defined professional programs as pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, chiropractic, law, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatry, and theology leaving out nurses, therapists, physician assistants, speech language pathologists, and public health workers. Eight professional associations sued, arguing their students would be forced to either abandon their education or take on more expensive private loans. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell sided with the plaintiffs, ruling that the Education Department added "more stringent requirements" to the definition specifically, that professional degree holders must work free from another professional's supervision without congressional authority to do so. Howell also noted that restricting access to loans could be "detrimental to the public, particularly in underserved communities that may face a shortage of healthcare and other critical professional services." The ruling does not eliminate the loan caps. It blocks only the Education Department's updated definition of what qualifies as a professional degree. The department said it is "reviewing the order and will take appropriate action." A separate lawsuit filed by a coalition of Democratic-led states challenging the caps more broadly is still pending. --- #StudentLoans #OnesBigBeautifulBill #HealthcareWorkers 🌐 Find more market-moving insights at https://www.benzinga.com — your one-stop destination for the latest financial news, data, and expert analysis to stay ahead of the markets. 🖥️ Want the same tools the pros use—without the $10K Bloomberg terminal? Benzinga Edge gives you real-time portfolio alerts, weekly stock picks, and pro-grade research in one command center. 👉 https://bit.ly/4unSKiB ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 📲 Follow us on socials @benzinga 🔔 Subscribe To The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Benzinga ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ⚠️ Disclaimer: Investing in financial markets carries risk, and there are no guaranteed returns. All information is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as financial advice. Always do your own research and speak with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Only invest what you can afford to lose. Past performance does not guarantee future outcomes.